Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a respected and important landmark in the First Congressional District, the Smithtown Library.

Since 1907, the Smithtown Library has been a dynamic center for continuous learning, with a multitude of resources and programs for the Long Island community. The library ranks as the seventh largest system in the State of New York. Its main building and three branch libraries serve over 115,000 residents in the town of Smithtown.

The Smithtown Library was first housed in the former chambers of Judge John Lawrence Smith, which still stands today east of the present main library building on Middle Country Road. In May 1952, the library was granted an absolute charter by the State of New York and became a town library under the direction of the town of Smithtown.

The library is home to ``The Long Island History Collection and the Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana,'' a unique collection of priceless artifacts dating back to the 1600s that includes nearly 8,000 books, over 750 maps and 130 boxes of written documents. No other institution on Long Island has a collection this large available for public viewing and scholarly research.

In November 2001, Smithtown residents voted that the library become independent and the name was changed to the ``Smithtown Special Library District,'' but it is still affectionately known as the Smithtown Library by the community. On Friday, November 30, the library celebrated its 100th anniversary with a gala centennial celebration.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to quote John Quincy Adams, this great country's sixth President, who said, ``To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is the greatest benefit that can he conferred upon mankind.'' Indeed, the Smithtown Library is a welcoming place for knowledge, dedicated to excellence and to enhancing the quality of life in Suffolk County, New York. I am proud to honor its 100th anniversary.

Madam Speaker. I rise to congratulate the extraordinary efforts of the William Floyd High School Varsity Football Team, for yet another flawless and record-setting season.

It was around this time last year that I rose to recognize the William Floyd High School team for an undefeated season and for winning the Long Island High School Championship, along with the coveted Rutgers Trophy. One full season later, and the Colonials are enjoying a winning streak of 33 consecutive games. This is a historic and unprecedented achievement in the 126-year history of Long Island high school football.

The William Floyd Colonials have been a dominating force for 3 consecutive years of perfect 11-0 seasons, Their exploits have garnered even national recognition, as a recent Sports Illustrated poll ranks the powerhouse team 25th in the entire country.

I am honored to represent William Floyd High School athletes who not only display great athletic prowess, but also a commitment to winning with class and sportsmanship. Competitive athletics teaches our students a host of valuable life lessons and I have long been an advocate of sports and extracurricular activities, as they complement, and contribute to academic excellence.

It is an honor to read the names of Coach Paul Longo's team into the Record.

First his coaching staff: Gil DeCicco, Pete Friedman, Robert Jackolski, Pete Lesiewicz, Brian Babst, Ernie Villatore and Mike Agostino.

Now the players who make up one of the most feared lineups in Long Island football history: Mat Golden, John Amato, Jarel Johnson, Krys Valentin, Nick Sidaras, Ricky Kruger, Joe Sidaras, Luke Miller, Matthew Vigliotta, Rey Marcano, Brian Zippel, Steven Murphy, Nick Verderosa, Keith McCormack, Rahmel Cook, Marcus Muelthaler, Kevin Lacey, Tom Antinucci, Vaughn Magee, Jonathan Romeo, Brandon Walsh, Jon Ilernandez, Brock Jackolski, Fernando Vasquez, Malik Green, Tom Penney, Jonathan Elbedawy, Jon D'Amico, Billy Keane, Chris Mocera, Pablo Ortiz, William Melin, Nick Astore, Wayne Magee, Dom Buffa, Anthony Hernandez, Sam Feerer, Tom Mocera, JJ Santiago, Joe Johnson, Calvin Forbes, Chris Cordovano, Brendon Turril, Brandon Clark, Andrew Giovine, Andrew Incantalupo, Dan Bayer, Nick DiGiorgi, Brandon Fardella, Guy Loomis, Matt Seib, Andrew Lingg. Mike Presseison, Alex Winters, Tom Lindley, Stephen Diaz, Donald Strand, Joe Miranda, Jon Korn, Eric Koenigsdorf, Nico Gonzalez. Jesse Kelley, Orion Folborg, Joe Mensch. Ricky Stoner, Robert DeSilva, Tim Cork.

The entire William Floyd community is justifiably excited and proud of the achievements of this team. These young student athletes represent what is good about high school sports, and it is my privilege to serve as their Congressman.

Go Floyd.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act.

I represent part of Suffolk County, New York, where over 20 Head Start and three Early Head Start centers have been serving the community since 1966. I am also proud to say that my wife's first teaching job was as a Head Start teacher, and that she remains today an early childhood teacher.

Parents, teachers, and many of my colleagues can all agree that Head Start is one of our Nation's most prominent and successful early education programs. This bill continues to build on Head Start's success by ensuring that kids are prepared for school, by improving teacher and classroom quality, strengthening the focus on school readiness, increasing accountability, and boosting coordination.

Research has found that children who attend Head Start enter school better prepared than their low-income peers who do not attend the program, and that children who do attend Head Start make significant learning gains.

If we are serious about achieving the goals set forth by NCLB, then passing Head Start reauthorization is a down payment on achieving these goals.

I was proud to offer an amendment during the Education and Labor Committee's consideration of this bill to allow Head Start programs to use up to 10 percent of their quality improvement funds for transportation costs. This amendment was in response to concerns brought to me by my constituents, as many Head Start programs are being forced to choose between providing transportation to children or sacrificing the quality of their program. This is a decision that no Head Start program should have to make.

With this amendment, and with so many other worthwhile improvements to Head Start, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this balanced reauthorization for the benefit of our children and future generations of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 365) honoring San Jose State University for its 150 years of commitment to public higher education, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 365 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in recognition of the 150th anniversary of San Jose State University. San Jose State University was established in 1857 as Minns Evening Normal School, for the sole purpose of training teachers, as California's population grew. As California's population has grown, San Jose State has grown into the largest university in the region with an enrollment of more than 30,000 students. The school has also expanded its programs to offer 134 bachelor's or master's degrees.

San Jose State is an extremely diverse school, with an enrollment of 23 percent of its students being Asian, 15 percent of its students being Hispanic, and 5 percent of its students being African American. This diversity has also led San Jose State to rank 10th in the Nation in total number of graduating minorities.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see another outstanding educational institution continuing to serve all those who wish to advance their education. I would like to thank and congratulate my colleague, Mr. Honda, for bringing this resolution to the attention of the House of Representatives. I urge my colleagues to resoundingly pass this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

We have no additional speakers.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 62) to honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United States, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H.J. Res. 62 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Baca of California.

(Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of my colleague from New York if he has any additional speakers.

I also yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4153) to make certain technical corrections and transition amendments to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H.R. 4153 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 4153, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act Technical Amendments, makes a number of technical changes to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act in order to ensure that the Department of Education and other relevant stakeholders reflect congressional intent when implementing the law.

Mr. Speaker, during this Congress we have made significant commitments to our Nation's students and families by putting resources in the hands of those who need them most. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, as passed and signed by the President, does more to help Americans pay for college than any effort since the GI Bill, at no new cost to taxpayers.

Specifically, the legislation provided a landmark investment of $20 billion in additional funding for Pell Grants, reductions in the interest rate on student loans, and the creation of programs to help students manage debt, as well as encourage individuals to pursue public service. Providing this critical funding is a large part of our efforts to increase access and affordability to higher education.

Our work on reforming and strengthening higher education is not finished for this Congress. I look forward to working with Chairman Miller and the rest of the Education and Labor Committee on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which we are set to mark up in committee tomorrow.

The technical amendments contained in this bill include: ensuring that the mandatory Pell funding is available for the full award year, which is the current fiscal year and the following fiscal year, to match the availability of discretionary Pell funding.

It clarifies the definition of untaxed income and benefits to ensure that it does not include those items in the calculations that were removed from the list under the College Cost Reduction Act.

It clarifies that students who were in foster care anytime after age 13 are independent for purposes of calculating eligibility for Federal student aid.

It clarifies that married borrowers' income-based repayment payments shall be determined solely on the individual borrower's loan information and the individual's income without considering spouse's income or any loan debt they may have if the married borrower files taxes separately.

It ensures that members of the National Guard who are serving full- time are considered active duty for purposes of student loan deferment benefits.

It conforms language in the TEACH grant program to ensure appropriate implementation.

And it moves the funds provided to HBCUs and MSIs to title III of the Higher Education Act.

Mr. Speaker, swift passage of H.R. 4153 will ensure that students and families will fully benefit from the program's funding and intent provided in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

I urge my colleagues to support this provision.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 709) recognizing and honoring the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum on October 9, 2007, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 709 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 709, a resolution to recognize and honor the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum on October 9, 2007.

Sam Rayburn is a legend to many of us in this House, having served as Speaker of the House for a record 17\1/2\ years. Born Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn, he served the people of Texas as an elected official for 55 consecutive years. Sam Rayburn spent 48 years here as a Member of Congress from the Fourth District of Texas and also served in the Texas House of Representatives. He was perhaps destined to become the Speaker of the House because he certainly had the experience for it. Prior to coming here, he was also the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and he served as Speaker of this House on three different occasions: from 1940 to 1947, from 1948 to 1953, and then again from 1955 until his death in 1961.

During Speaker Rayburn's time of service to this great Nation, he presided over the enactment of the Marshall Plan, expansion of Social Security, and passage of the first pieces of major civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.

Throughout the House campus, we have an array of memorials to the Speaker. The largest House office building which houses Members and committee offices is the Rayburn House Office Building built in 1965. His likeness stands in the entrance to that building, and there is also the Rayburn Room, which has hosted many negotiations and meetings across from the House floor.

Texas has also honored its native son with the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum, located in Speaker Rayburn's hometown of Bonham, Texas. It recently had its 50th anniversary and is celebrating the completion of phase one of the museum's restoration program. This restoration program will help protect the valuable collections stored at the library.

This anniversary year has been a busy one for the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum. In January, it hosted the annual celebration of Speaker Rayburn's birthday and has featured three new exhibits. The Sam Rayburn Foundation also honors high school seniors from the Speaker's home of Bonham and Fannin County.

Speaker Rayburn, despite his busy congressional schedule, was actively involved in every step of his library's planning, construction, and dedication. The library and museum was his way of paying tribute to the people of Fannin County. This resolution also honors the supporters and contributors who have helped make this library such a success.

I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this resolution, and I urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I also thank her for her leadership on this very important bill.

Mr. Speaker, a congressional override of this Presidential veto is absolutely imperative to ensure the safety and viability of our Nation's water infrastructure.

For the President to veto this legislation under the guise of fiscal responsibility is hypocritical at best. The tab for the President's endless war in Iraq is now in excess of $600 billion and counting. Just the interest on the amount we have borrowed to fund the war is $25 billion per year, an amount that exceeds the authorized level of this legislation. This veto is a stark reminder that the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on the war in Iraq has been at the expense of pressing priorities here at home.

In the 5 years since the war began, over $45 billion has been spent on restoring the infrastructure in Iraq. This is double the $23 billion price tag a bipartisan majority of Congress seeks now to address a 7- year backlog of much-needed projects.

When it comes to domestic priorities, the President has decided against investing in America. He has vetoed expanding health care for children, he has vetoed research for life-threatening diseases, he has vetoed benchmarks for Iraq, and has threatened vetoes on investments ranging from education to law enforcement. Are these vetoes the priorities of America, or are they the misplaced priorities of an administration hopelessly out of step with the American people?

Mr. Speaker, the Water Resources Development Act benefits all Americans and their families who use and enjoy our Nation's waterways. My district benefits from the good work that the Army Corps of Engineers does for coastal communities by helping small towns deal with multiple concerns ranging from erosion to longstanding environmental challenges.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1495 will go a long way towards supplying the Corps with the resources it needs to protect coastal communities by modernizing project planning and approval. We simply cannot afford to let another year go by without passing this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to override the President's veto.

I thank my colleague from New York for yielding.

On behalf of my colleagues of New York's congressional delegation, and as one who represents families of the first responders and victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, I'm proud to rise as the sponsor of the House companion to this important legislation.

I also wish to thank my 11 cosponsors and the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Conyers, as well as the Democratic leadership for expediting the consideration of this bill.

The Procedural Fairness for September 11 Victims Act of 2007, as its title implies, ensures fairness for the victims of the terrorist attacks by correcting a shortcoming in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and by reversing an unintended consequence of the bill that established the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Although I was not yet in Congress, many of my colleagues who were here at that time will recall when this body passed the bill creating the compensation fund in 2001.

Shortly thereafter, the Justice Department administered how the fund could allow victims of the terrorist attacks or their families to apply for financial assistance following the loss of loved ones who perished on that tragic day.

The Justice Department also designated the Southern District of New York as the only court in which 9/11 claims could be litigated if victims and their families chose to opt out of the fund.

As a result of this designation and a flaw in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, families of the victims, as well as the defendants in the 9/11 cases, cannot gain access to testimony or documents from witnesses who did not live within 100 miles of the Southern District of New York.

But there's really no logical reason why victims and their families should be prevented from securing documents and witnesses just because they happen to be more than 100 miles outside the Southern District.

It is obvious that many of the victims aboard the four airliners that crashed and those who were killed inside the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon, as well as those who witnessed these horrific events, resided well outside of this 100-mile radius of the Southern District of New York.

And it should be assumed that many of the families of the victims who are involved in the 9/11 claims, or those who will seek compensation at a later date, as well as the witnesses, still live in the same locations across the country. Therefore, geography simply should have no role in how they seek compensation.

In response to this problem, this bill amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to provide for nationwide subpoena power to all parties involved, victims, their families and the defendants, when litigating 9/11 claims.

Simply put, this bill establishes a full measure of justice by allowing subpoenas to be served anywhere in the country, ensuring that all the parties involved in the 9/11 suits can gain all of the information necessary to try these cases fully and fairly.

My colleagues on both sides of the aisle can agree that justice requires that all the parties to cases arising under the Victims Compensation Fund have access to all the testimony and documents relevant to their claims, regardless of where the witnesses or documents are located in the United States.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the Procedural Fairness for September 11 Victims Act of 2007. Once again, I want to thank the Judiciary Committee for reporting this measure to the floor so promptly, and I thank the leadership for moving it.

Madam Speaker, it is with honor and with a profound sadness that I rise to recognize Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of the United States Navy, who last week was posthumously awarded our Nation's highest award for valor: the Medal of Honor.

Among my greatest privileges was attending last week's ceremonial presentations of the Medal of Honor to his family at the White House and the Navy Memorial.

Known fondly as ``Murph,'' Michael was born on May 7, 1976, in Smithtown, New York, and grew up in Patchogue, in my district on eastern Long Island. He was raised by a family of policemen, lifeguards, firemen, and teachers who instilled values reflecting that public service is a noble calling.

In high school, Lieutenant Murphy life-guarded at the Brookhaven town beach in Lake Ronkonkoma, a job he returned to each summer through his college years. He graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1994.

Lieutenant Murphy attended Penn State University, where he was an exceptional all-around athlete and student. He excelled at ice hockey, graduated with honors, and was accepted to several law schools, but instead wanted to serve his country as part of the world's most elite fighting force: the U.S. Navy SEALs.

Slightly built at 5 feet, 10 inches, he attended SEAL mentoring sessions at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and was accepted to the Navy Officer Candidate School in 2000. Lieutenant Murphy was commissioned as an ensign and after 6 months completed Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training in 2001. He then attended Army Jump School, SEAL Qualification Training, SEAL Delivery Vehicle School, and earned his SEAL Trident by 2002.

Lieutenant Murphy was later deployed to Qatar and to the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2005, Lieutenant Murphy was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE as assistant officer in charge of ALFA Platoon and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Madam Speaker, the Congressional Medal of Honor commemorates Lieutenant Murphy's actions as the officer in charge of a four-man SEAL unit in support of Operation Red Wing, tasked with finding a key Taliban commander in the mountainous terrain of northeastern Afghanistan.

On June 28, 2005, shortly after inserting into the objective area, the SEALs were spotted by three goat herders who were initially detained and then released. It is believed they reported the SEALs' presence to Taliban fighters.

A fierce gun battle ensued on the steep face of the mountain between the SEALs and a much larger enemy force. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave gunshot wounds himself, Lieutenant Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates.

He had moved into the open where he could gain a better position to transmit a call for help. This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and made him a target for the enemy. While continuing to be fired upon, he made contact with Bagram Air Base to request assistance. He calmly reported his unit's location and the size of the enemy force while requesting support for his team.

He was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. He picked it back up, completed the call, and continued firing at the enemy closing in. Severely wounded, he returned to his men and continued the battle.

In response to Lieutenant Murphy's call, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter, with eight additional SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers aboard, was sent. As the Chinook drew near, a rocket-propelled grenade hit the helicopter, causing it to crash, killing all 16 men aboard.

On the ground and nearly out of ammunition, the four SEALs continued to fight. After 2 hours Lieutenant Murphy, Matthew Axelson, and Daniel Dietz had fallen. Over 30 Taliban were also killed.

The fourth SEAL, Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, was knocked unconscious and over a ridge by the blast of a rocket-propelled grenade. Though severely wounded, he evaded the enemy for nearly a day and was rescued by local nationals who cared for him until U.S. forces arrived for him 3 days later.

Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was buried at Calverton National Cemetery, less than 20 miles from his hometown. His other awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, and National Defense Service Medal.

Throughout his life, he was known for his unwavering loyalty and an instinctive responsibility to help others. With unwavering courage in the face of certain death, he gave his life for his country and teammates, reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the Navy's highest traditions.

Madam Speaker, our Nation is blessed to have a military full of great Americans like Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy who are serving with great distinction. He epitomized the selfless devotion to duty our young men and women have demonstrated time and again in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hostile regions. My heart goes out to the Murphy family and the people of Patchogue, New York, for they have lost one of America's very finest.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize Dr. Merlon Wiggin, an accomplished and exemplary resident of the first district of New York.

Dr. Merlon Wiggin is a proud Long Island native and the founder of East End Lighthouses, Inc. a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation. The organization's mission is to encourage the historic preservation and restoration of lighthouses, lightship, and lifesaving station artifacts throughout America. The East End branch, in particular, works to preserve and restore the offshore lighthouses of Southold Town.

Dr. Wiggin is an authority on boating and maritime safety. A graduate of the University of Maine, with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Merlon's expertise and passion for the sea is what led him to initiate the conversion of the former Greenport Railroad Station into a maritime museum. He has authored numerous historical articles and booklets on local lighthouses and is on the writing staff of Long Island Boating World and Peconic Bay Shopper magazines.

Among a long list of accomplishments, Dr. Wiggin has served as Director of engineering at Presque Isle Air Force Base and chief of engineering at Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center. He also worked with NASA on its ``Moon Lab'' during the Apollo space missions. Dr. Wiggin is currently the president of ``Peconic Associates'', a local maritime consulting firm, and ``Isocon Ltd'', an internationally recognized research laboratory and biological containment consulting firm.

In his free time, Merlon is an avid sailor and is known to race his 30 foot sloop, ``Albion'' on local waters. He and his wife Isabelle reside in East Marion, NY. On behalf of a grateful community, I thank Dr. Merlon Wiggin for his many enduring contributions to Long Island, New York, and this great Nation. I wish him and his family the absolute best for the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I was speaking at the U.S. Navy Memorial ceremony in honor of my constituent, Lt.

Michael Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor this week and I was not present in the House chamber to vote on rollcall 994.

Madam Speaker, I rise on behalf of nine of my colleagues to introduce the Procedural Fairness for September 11th Victims Act. This bipartisan legislation is an identical companion to a bill introduced by Senator Biden and passed by the Senate earlier this month.

We offer this legislation in response to a shortcoming in the Federal rules of civil procedure that has the unintended consequence of restricting witnesses from appearing in civil lawsuits involving September 11th claims.

Six years ago, Americans came together to support one another in a time of national crisis. The attacks on September 11, 2001 affected all of us, in all walks of life and in every State across the country. However, for those who were injured or lost loved ones on September 11th, geography is playing a major role in their ability to seek compensation.

Shortly after September 11th, Congress mandated that victims and their families who opted out of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund and chose to pursue civil suits could only do so in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. According to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, parties can only subpoena testimony and documents within 100 miles of that district. As a result, many victims and their families cannot bring the witnesses or documents they need for their cases.

In response, the Procedural Fairness for September 11th Victims Act will amend the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to provide for nation-wide subpoena power to all parties involved-- victims, their families and the defendants--when litigating 9/11 claims.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues agree that justice requires that the parties to cases arising under the Victims Compensation Fund have access to all the testimony and documents relevant to their claims, regardless of where in the U.S. the witnesses or documents are located. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor the Procedural Fairness for September 11th Victims Act and call

upon the leadership to move this legislation as soon as possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support and as a proud cosponsor of this resolution, recognizing the importance of the Federal Government's continued support for research into the rare bone marrow failure disorder for which there is no known cure known as Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

I am very proud to represent Manny and Maria Arturi of Remsenberg, NY, located in my district. After the loss of their daughter Daniela Maria nearly 12 years ago, the foundation they created and that bears her name continues making great strides toward the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

When a tragic disorder like this strikes infants within the first year of their lives, it is all the more important for Congress to go on record voicing our unwavering support to raise awareness and broaden support for funding rare disease research. Accordingly, this resolution demonstrates we support giving experienced doctors the resources for the most complete care for those patients. And by encouraging the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control to coordinate a multidisciplinary approach toward a cure, this legislation brings hope that other parents will be spared from the kind of devastation felt by the Arturis once they learned of their child's diagnosis.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution as well as other measures that will ultimately bring about a cure for Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3648, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of similar legislation that also gives a much-deserved break to homeowners and their families facing enormous tax liability made more painful by the housing crisis.

Nearly 3,000 homeowners in Suffolk County, New York in my district are facing foreclosure. One out of every 180 families in my district will join 2.2 million families nationwide whose subprime loans have already failed or will end in foreclosure.

Adding insult to injury, most of them have to pay a tax when a lender forgives some part of their mortgage. The IRS treats that forgiven debt as income, and can even add interest and penalties.

To be relieved of debt at one moment, but then to be charged shortly thereafter with a huge tax bill is a tremendous shock and burden. We can all agree that middle class families who lose their homes should be spared any further penalty by the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, losing your home is bad enough. The last thing any family in today's housing market needs is for the IRS to make their struggle more of an uphill climb. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3648 and commend the leadership for expediting its consideration by the House today.